If you know me on any personal level, I would consider myself a good guy. A guy who respects others, and looks out for the best interest of those around me than myself, a guy who loves people, a guy who is committed and disciplined to the church of God, and the vision of the Pastors and Leaders around me. A guy who will do anything for you if you ask me, and who works well with his hands.
I was raised by my father. My parents split up before I turned 2 years of age, so my childhood memories and experiences are of my father. I hear stories all the time of how he held me close, and was so gentle with me, and carried me in his arms so tightly. Those stories however, are not in my memories. The memories I have are working to please him, and gain his love through performance, and good works I did. The more I did, the less rejection I felt. The less I acted out in deeds, the more worthless He made me feel. I grew up for 17 years under his authority, and learning that love didn't come easy, but only with a price. I'm almost 25 years of age, and I am just learning that love has nothing to do with our performance, or works of service we do. People love because God loved us first. I'm just now learning that love is shown to who we are, not what we do. I'm gentle in a lot of areas, and I stick close to humility. Knowing and understanding my work, my good deeds, or my performance for other people can never measure love. Love should be directed and is given based on who you are, not what you do. We for example, hate the sin of people, but love them because they are children of God, and created to worship the King. Yet, we can only love people for who they are, when we know that God loves us for who we are, that His love for us is based not on any condition we might provide, but just that He loves us, and through that amazing love, He gave His Son for us so that we might have eternal life with Him. How amazing is it to rest in that love, a love that doesn't need explanation, or reasoning for its actions, or to be bought with works of service. But, a love that just is. In John 3:16 Jesus says, "He so loved the world that He gave." Love certainly gives.
What does love look like to you? Are there rules and regulations behind the love you give, is there are contract stating what you should get from love, or is your love based on a condition that it makes you feel?
Love is unconditional in every way, there are no lists of mess-ups, it only gives. And He is faithful if you let Him Love you, with this amazing Love. He will show you what Love is because He is love.
This is the Love of my Father.
